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How connected do you feel…in your home, workplace, school or community? Sadly, anecdotal evidence suggests that the average person does not feel connected to others, especially leaders, in spite of the myriad ways that technology allows us to do so in the 21st century.

We would argue that one of the most critical challenges that leaders face today is connecting authentically with their followers. The inability to create a true sense of belonging and trust with those they lead limits their influence and the collective action and high impact results that they are able to achieve.

Consider these two questions:

Question 1: What makes you angry?

Is it when a great global power, such as the United States, still has extensive poverty, hunger and homelessness? Is it when a woman who faces sexual violence is blamed for the actions inflicted upon her and is ultimately vilified? Is it when a man drops a crumpled piece of paper on a busy street, and hundreds of people walk by without a second thought?

Anger is a conduit for passion. It enables people to connect with a deep emotion – a sincere desire for change and it creates a dynamic source of energy that ultimately cultivates action and channels people toward the accomplishment of a goal guided by a united purpose. Through shared anger, people can connect.

Question 2: What do you dream of?

Do you dream that your children will have a better life than your own? Do you dream that people might be free to love without prejudice? Do you dream of a world where you can have a conversation with a person and leave feeling accepted?

Dreams connect human beings on the most fundamental level. All people hope for accomplishment, be it in life, business, sports or influence. The discussion of dreams is unifying, and defining. Dreams provide inspiration that can open people’s minds to possibilities and expand their perceptions of what can and what will be accomplished.

Dreams drive anger to action. These emotions can be used by leaders in every walk of life—home, work, school and community—to create connectedness – defined as a sense of belonging that transcends borders and all that makes us different. It can be used in order to accomplish both the day-to-day goals and the greater life missions that unite leaders and their followers.

Individuals who aspire to be effective leaders must define who they are and what they stand for – what makes them angry and what their dreams consist of – before they can connect with others at a fundamental level. This requires vulnerability – which creates a degree of openness and fundamentally changes human interactions. Vulnerability is followed by trust and with trust comes the ability to speak candidly, to say the words that can connect and inspire those around you. Indeed, leadership is about connecting from this place of authenticity and vulnerability.

This requirement for connectedness is not limited to CEOs of large companies or country presidents. It applies to leaders at all levels of society and to anyone who has a sphere of influence!

Now here is our challenge to you:

As you strive to build effective teams and drive actions in your sphere of influence – consider these two questions: “What makes you angry?” and “What is your dream?” Your personal response and the responses that you elicit from others will foster a degree of openness, trust and a common ground. This will propel you to connect in new and more meaningful ways with others and to inspire collective action, fueled by passion to achieve your shared goals!